torture
Pronunciation
  • (GA) IPA: /ˈtɔɹt͡ʃɚ/
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈtɔːt͡ʃə(ɹ)/
Noun

torture

  1. intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony
    Using large dogs to attack bound, hand-cuffed prisoners is clearly torture.
    In every war there are acts of torture that cause the world to shudder.
    People confess to anything under torture.
  2. (chiefly, literary) the "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships
    Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture!
    Coventry City midfielder Josh Ruffels described his 11 months out injured as 'absolute torture' after the goalless draw with Derby County Under-21s. ()
  3. (colloquial) (often as "absolute torture") stage fright, severe embarrassment
Translations Translations Verb

torture (tortures, present participle torturing; past and past participle tortured)

  1. (transitive) To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).
    People who torture often have sadistic tendencies.
    In the aftermath of 9/11, we did some things that were wrong. We did a whole lot of things that were right, but, we tortured some folks. We did some things that were contrary to our values.
Translations


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